UMCNA Central District

01/13/2023

Notice about Local Church Disaffiliation paragraph

In November I attended a number of church conferences in which churches were voting on whether or not to disaffiliate. In almost all churches, some members were surprised that they were voting on whether to leave the United Method Church based on a single issue: homosexuality. For clarification, I'm posting that paragraph here.

#2553 Disaffiliation of a Local Church Over Issues Related to Human Sexuality—1. Basis—Because of the current deep conflict within The United Methodist Church around issues of human sexuality, a local church shall have a limited right, under the provisions of this paragraph, to disaffiliate from the denomination for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of the Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals as resolved and adopted by the 2019 General Conference, or the actions or inactions of its annual conference related to these issues which follow.

Note that this is the only issue under consideration when voting to disaffiliate.

Thanks! Anne

11/08/2021

Laity, Did you get the news? Check out this important message about an opportunity you have this Tuesday. Pastors, please see that your lead lay members know about this!

New Church of the North Alabama Conference has four workshops designed to help you do something new in 2021.  New Church desires to partner with you ...

10/05/2021

Results of a survey of 2,500 UMC pastors and church leaders from across the country attending a leadership institute online and in person. They were asked what they valued most about the UMC. You might have to zoom in to see the responses. Top five answers:
Emphasis on God's grace
Passionate faith in Jesus lived by serving others
A wide welcome of all people
A church for thinking people
Theology shaped by Scripture; with tradition, experience and reason.

08/24/2021

Questions and Thoughts from our Bishop

Heading into this new season we call fall, here are a few questions I invite you to consider. “What patterns and practices in your life need a reset? What in your life is due a recalibration? What rhythms are you longing to resume?” Renewal restores but it also refocuses us for the next chapter of life and ministry.

After all, “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.”

08/01/2021

Looking for an Advent study?

Check out Bishop Wallace-Padgett's new Advent study, “God Broke Through at Christmas.”

Churches (or individuals) can receive a 20 percent discount on “God Broke Through At Christmas” by pre-ordering copies (it’s now available for pre-order and will be in stock August 16) by August 20 at:

https://msb.press/gbt

The coupon code to receive the 20 percent discount is:

GBTAC

As lay leader for the Central District I’m respectfully asking you to Help spread the word.

Thanks,
Anne Jolly

07/29/2021

Message from our Bishop

Dear Friends,

I am grateful for how United Methodist churches and leaders in the North Alabama Conference have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Much ministry has been accomplished even as we have practiced Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to help mitigate the spread of the virus.

One of the North Alabama Conference’s guiding principles throughout the pandemic has been the first of Methodism’s three General Rules “Do No Harm.” Indeed, this is the title of the guidelines developed by North Alabama leadership for funerals, weddings, sacraments, and reopening our church buildings during the pandemic.

Due to variants causing increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in recent days, we encourage clergy and church leaders to revisit the Do No Harm guidelines. Please note that as of July 27, 59 counties in Alabama are at very high risk for COVID transmission and all but two counties in North Alabama are either very high or high risk. (Alabama Department of Public Health COVID- 19 dashboard). Also, remember that no one 12 years old or younger has had the opportunity to receive the vaccine.

Let us continue to pray and act on behalf of:

countries in the world still waiting for adequate supplies of the vaccine; the rising number of persons in our communities, state and nation who are hospitalized and, in some cases, dying from COVID-19; all those adversely affected by this ongoing pandemic;
and our clergy and churches as they lead and serve.

Again, thank you for your response to COVID-19 during the past year and a half. May each of us continue to be diligent in our efforts to “Do No Harm” as we deal with the pandemic at home and abroad. After all, “Do No Harm” is in the DNA of United Methodism.

As always, it is a privilege to serve as your bishop.

Blessings,
Debra Wallace-Patricia Padgett

05/28/2021

DISCIPLES BUILDING DISCIPLES

Lay Members and Lay Leaders, you are invited to the UMC North Alabama Annual Conference 2021 Laity Session!

The Laity Session will include short presentations related to the Annual Conference theme of “Disciples Building Disciples” and how laity can grow and help others grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.

When:
Friday, June 4 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This session will be virtual through a Zoom Webinar - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83817094432?pwd=bjVDYWhJaEpJanJ4Y3gycldYTDFndz09

Please feel free to invite others at your church to join us for this online event. Let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to seeing you at the Laity Session!

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05/19/2021

Friends, important information about this years' virtual Annual Conference!

Times listed below are tentative. The plenary schedules will be adjusted throughout the live event based on the pace business is conducted. This means the Bishop may call on presentations at times other than those listed below. All members are encouraged to attend the entire Annual Conference in ord...

11/19/2020

In a recent Evolve session, Leonard Sweet made a couple of remarks that restarted my thinking about our current church situation.
1. The church is not a building. It took a pandemic to kick us out of this building-based paradigm.
2. The new front door to the church is the Internet. It's a new reality that we are discovering together - an age of innovation and imagination.

We can view this as a disaster or as an opportunity. How do we make the shift to the exciting opportunity mindset?

11/01/2020

Please vote! Leadership matters. The character, competence and convictions of our leaders matter. But, as Christians, our ultimate hope does not depend on who wins in any of the races. Our hope is in God. Regardless of who wins the Presidency or who controls the House and Senate, “We the People” will determine - by how we live how we love, and how we treat one another - our nation’s future.

10/06/2020

THANK YOU!
Thank you for your responses to the post asking for your Charge Conferences preferences, and for your ideas for conducting this year's Charge Conference. After reading them, we decided to hold both virtual and in-person conferences, and your church will receive information from from the District Superintendent clarifying how your church will be involved. These meetings will take place in mid-November.
Thank you, again, for participating! 😊

08/20/2020

Laity and Pastors,

Will you give us your ideas for how the District should conduct the 2020 Charge Conference* this year?

In previous years this has taken several forms. We have held one large meeting with all churches gathering at the same place. We have also held cluster meetings with a group of local churches meeting together. Some individual churches have held their own charge conferences.

During this pandemic we need to consider other ways to conduct the 2020 Charge Conference. What approach makes sense to you? Any suggestions at all will be appreciated!

Please respond at [email protected].
Thank you,

Anne Jolly
Central District Lay Leader

* The charge conference is the basic governing body of each United Methodist local church and is composed of all members of the church council. All members of the charge conference must be members of the local church. The charge conference must meet at least once per year. The charge conference directs the work of the church and gives general oversight to the church council, reviews and evaluates the mission and ministry of the church, sets salaries for the pastor and staff, elects the members of the church council, and recommends candidates for ordained ministry